-LRB- CNN -RRB- Thailand could soon recognize a third gender category for the first time in the country 's constitution .

`` It is a human right if you were born a male or female and you want to have a sex change or lead a life of a different gender , '' said Kamnoon Sittisamarn , the spokesperson of Constitution Drafting Committee , which is working on a new draft of the country 's constitution .

`` People should have -LSB- that -RSB- freedom to change sex and they should be equally protected by the Constitution and the law and treated fairly . ''

Third gender means that an individual does not have to identify as either male or female , and gives their right to self-identify .

If enacted , Thailand would join several Asian countries , including India , Pakistan and Nepal , that have recently moved to recognize third gender .

This week , the Constitution Drafting Committee , a panel tapped by the current Thai military junta , started work on a new draft . The junta , which calls itself the National Council for Peace and Order , took power in May after a military coup .

The old constitution recognizes people of different religion , age , gender -- but had not extended to transgender people .

`` It is now time to recognize the existence of the third gender in Thai society , '' said Sittisamarn . `` So we expand the region of protection as well . ''

`` Hopefully introducing third gender will help reduce discrimination in society . ''

The Constitution Drafting Committee is expected to consider various components of Thai law and submit it to review by April . The decision to legalize the Constitution will be made on August 6 .

Acceptance in Thailand

There 's a perception that transgender people are well accepted in Thailand , due to the availability of gender reassignment surgery . But challenges still exist , several transgender people living in Bangkok told CNN .

`` First of all in Thailand , we 're pretty well-accepted , we can walk in the street and we do n't have to fear that someone 's going to shoot you in the head . At the same time , the most difficult thing is at a professional level , that people do n't accept people like us , '' said Jenisa Limpanilchart , a businessperson .

It 's difficult for transgender people , despite their education level , to get hired and accepted by companies , she added . And matters like which locker room or bathroom to use become a human resources issue .

And there is no legal recourse when discrimination occurs , because there have been no laws to protect them , said Kath Khangpiboon , a transgender activist with the Thai Transgender Alliance in Bangkok .

Another problem is that the gender marked on government documents does n't match how individuals identify their gender .

When Khangpiboon travels , she gets pulled out of immigration lines for questioning by officials because of the gender marked on her passport .

`` For trans people , we can not change our title name . I 'm still a ` mister ' in my country . I can not change my title . My name is Mr. Kath , '' said Khangpiboon , a transgender woman .

While recognizing the third gender would not resolve all the challenges , it would be `` history '' for our advocacy work , she added .

More nations recognize third gender

Earlier last year , India 's Supreme Court granted the country 's transsexual and transgender individuals the right to self-identify their gender . Asian countries including Nepal , Pakistan and Bangladesh have implemented policies recognizing third gender in recent years .

Australia started allowing a third gender option in passports in 2011 . According to a 2012 report by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law , 20 countries have passed progressive legislation on the issue , including Argentina , Uruguay , and Portugal .

Even as transgender people are no longer forced to conform to specific genders in certain countries , they are still denied acceptance in many societies . Same-sex marriage remains illegal in countries like Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh and Bhutan .

And Thailand does not have plans to legalize same sex marriages in its constitution , said Sittisamarn .

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Thailand constitution looks to recognize third gender

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People have right to change sex and be protected by Thai constitution , says spokesman